It’s that time of year again in Tennessee- it’s cool in the early mornings and warm in the evenings. It’s just too soon to retire some of our beloved summer pieces with the temperature still rising in the afternoon, so we’ve come up with some creative ways to dress for this wacky weather:

Blouse- Rachel Roy sz M $24

Blazer- Classiques Errier sz S $68

Skirt- Old Navy sz S $10

Scarf- $2

Necklace- Chico’s $24

Throw a lightweight fall blazer over your favorite casual summer outfit for a chic way to keep that morning chill away!

This outfit is great if you just need something lightweight to throw over your summer dress. A loosely crocheted sweater is the perfect answer to this weather!

Top- A’nue Ligne sz M $28

Skirt- BCBG sz 8 $48

Ruffled Jacket- J. Crew sz 0 $25

Freshwater Pearl Necklace- $48

Keep warm in the morning on your way to work with a sweet little ruffled jacket – and ff you work in the air conditioning, you may not even need to take it off! Paired with a simple top and pencil skirt, you’ll be cozy and chic in the office!

This week at the shop we’ve been poring over the massive September issue of Vogue. There are so many fabulous trends for fall, and we’re continuing with our feature on how to take some of those looks off the runway and into your own closet! Is anyone else as excited as we are that pieces with fun embellishments like studs, sequins and gems are in this season? We show you how to sparkle in some fun embellished pieces that we have in the store right now, below:

Embellished Jumper- 213 sz M $120

Ascot Blouse- BCBG sz M $80

Pumps- Marc Jacobs sz 7.5 $68

Dress up your office wear with a fun embellished jumper! We paired ours with a feminine ascot blouse and low heeled pumps.

Jacket- Joolay sz L $36

Top- BCBG sz S $40

Tank (worn underneath)- Allison sz M $4

Skirt- Sevier Skirts sz 6/8 $88

Pointy Toe Heels- Prada sz 37 $68

Once this Tennessee heat finally fades, you can wear embellished jackets and coats like this one by Joolay. The sequined embroidered detailing is eye catching yet subtle enough to wear every day!

Embellished Dress- sz M $24

Brown Leather Booties- Coach sz 7.5 $100

This shift dress is perfect for when you need something to just throw on and go. The great part about most embellished pieces is that you can go without any jewelry- now you can spend more time picking out the perfect shoes 😉 We paired the dress with a pair of classic leather booties!

Embellished Sweatshirt- Adam Lippes sz M $48

Ikat Print Pants- Free People (These are New With Tags!) sz 27 $60

Suede Booties- Kelsi Dagger sz 8.5 $48

This embellished sweatshirt is one of our favorite pieces right now! The chain and bead shoulder details have an edgy feel, and it’s so easy to wear. Pair with some skinny jeans or some printed pants like we’ve done, and you have a great comfy yet chic fall ensemble.

Top- Gado Gado sz S $68

Vest- Hazel sz M $100

Corduroy Pants- Twill 22 sz 25 $32

Ankle Cowboy Boots- Old Gringo sz 9.5 $200

Studs, Sequins AND beads? I know, we’re excited too. And those boots? Come in and see these pieces for yourself, they won’t last!

Transition a lightweight top that you’ve worn all summer with your skirts and jean shorts with some dark jeans, suede pumps, and a funky hat!

Dress- White House Black Market sz 10 $20

Jacket- Corleone sz S $48

Resign Rose Necklace- $16

Pumps- Sam Edelman (Brand New!) sz 8.5 $88

Toughen up that girly summer dress with a military inspired jacket, perfect for the chillier nights we’ve been having lately. Military details are also a huge fall trend! We’ve paired this ensemble with another great pair of suede pumps but if you really want to toughen up the look, swap them out for some ankle booties or even combat boots.

Top- Hi-Line sz XS $16

Blazer- Ali + Kris sz S $20

Metallic Shorts- Express sz 4 $28

Necklace- Chicos $24

Shoes- Sam Edelman sz 8.5 $24

Bring your favorite pair of tailored shorts into fall with a great embellished blazer. Pair the outfit with simple yet chic flats for a look that is both casual and put together!

Sweater- Bluebird sz M $48

Dress- D Closet sz S/M $28

Belt- sz M $16

Long Multi Knotted Necklace- $16

Hammered Link Circle Necklace- $4

Wedges- Como sz 8.5 $10

A great way to get some more wear out of your summery maxi dresses is by layering a sweater over them! We paired our look with some long necklaces and wedges, and added a belt to keep the outfit from looking too shapeless.

August is the astrological sign for Leo’s birthday month! A Leo is usually characterized as being extremely ambitious – a born hunter! The sign is often depicted by a lion. As an ode to our feline minded fashionistas, we’ve put together some safari-inspired ensembles. Happy Hunting!

Is anyone else counting down the days until Fall, yet? We’re ready for cozy cardigans over our dresses and tights with our heels! Of course, no autumn ensemble will be complete without an on-trend handbag. Today we’re channeling our inner “ladies who lunch” with these feminine frame bags:

One of the big trends for fall is brocade. Beautifully embroidered pieces with metallic threads can be a great way to give any outfit a luxurious and expensive feel! We were especially inspired by this look from Marni’s fall 2012 ready to wear show.

Since we can’t all just run out and buy a designer brocade piece from this season, we’ve put together a few outfits with some of the great brocade pieces we have in the shop right now:

Brocade Blazer- J. Crew $40

Skinny Jeans- Citizens of Humanity $68

Metallic Flats- Beverly Keldman sz 7 $68

Scarf- Liz Claiborne $4

This look is a great way to incorporate the brocade trend into a casual outfit for daytime. The scarf tied into a bow keeps it playful and the gold flats tie in the metallic details of the brocade blazer!

If you’re really ready to take on this trend, head straight for a pair of brocade pants! We paired ours with a bright and funky zip up sweater and some sparkly slingbacks for a look that is sure to turn heads.

Top- Talbots $16

Vest- Gap $16

Skirt- J Crew $6

Scarf- Vera $10

Necklace- $20

Heels- Pella $68

Head to work in a sweet little brocade skirt, blouse and vest combo! We completed this feminine ensemble with huge costume pearls and fun platform heels.

Don’t forget that tomorrow marks the beginning of Tennessee’s Sales Tax Holiday! Come and get some lovely tax-free brocade 🙂

It’s that time of year again! Kids are headed back to school soon, and that means back to school shopping! The first weekend in August marks Tennessee’s Sales Tax Holiday, so this Friday and Saturday select items will be tax free. Here’s a rundown of what is eligible for you to purchase tax free here at Designer Renaissance:

*Clothing with a price of $100 or less per item

*Shoes with a price of $100 or less per item

*Accessories with a price of $100 or less per item, including belts, hats and scarves

*Any clothing or shoe items that had been previously put on layaway and were not above $100 per item (This means if you had put an eligible item on layaway and want to make your final payment this weekend, you can do so tax free)

In anticipation for this fabulous holiday, we’ve had some fun putting together a few outfits that you can get entirely tax free!